Section 2 - Scope

Section 3 - Policy Statement

Section 4 - Procedure

Principles

(4) The University’s Code of Conduct outlines that the highest standards of professional integrity are expected of all staff. In respect to bribery of foreign public officials there are also important legislative requirements contained in the Criminal Code Act 1995. Bribing, or attempting to bribe, a foreign public official is a serious crime, subject to severe penalties. Australian entities or individuals that bribe an official in a foreign country can be prosecuted under Australian law and the laws of foreign countries. Any failure by staff to comply with this procedure may result in disciplinary action.

Considerations

(5) Regardless of the value, staff should consider the following when deciding if a gift, benefit or advantage to a foreign public official is appropriate:

Is the gift, benefit or advantage offered or given to a foreign public official one of money or readily exchanged for money?

Is it offered with the intention of influencing a foreign public official in the exercise of his or her official duties to obtain or retain business or a business advantage that is not legitimately due to the University?

Could the gift, benefit, promise or advantage be construed by others to be a bribe?

Commercial Agreements

(6) Agreements with overseas entities may involve a commercial relationship and custom may include the exchange of gifts. Caution should be taken when giving gifts of value, which are not considered reasonable in the circumstances and which could be perceived as being given with the intent of influencing a foreign official in conducting business with the University.

(7) Under Australian law, it is an offence to bribe a foreign public official even if a bribe may be seen to be customary, necessary or required in the situation, and even if there is official tolerance of the bribe.

Seeking Guidance

(8) If staff are unsure about their obligations under these Procedures, they should seek clarification from their supervisor. In addition, all staff and affiliates can obtain guidance from the Director, Risk Management.

Reporting Bribery - Protected Disclosure

(9) Any member of the University community, visitor to the University or member of the general public that wishes to make a complaint or report an incident involving the University or an officer of the University may do so as a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosure Act 2012.

Reporting Bribery to the University – non-Protected Disclosure

(11) Reports of fraud or corrupt behaviour by members of the University may also be made to the University’s Risk Management or Internal Audit Office.

(12) Any person who wishes to report an incident may complete the LTU Fraud Allegation Form and forward it to the Risk Management or to the Internal Audit Office. Reports can be made anonymously. Persons should ensure that as much information regarding the incident in provided to enable full investigation of the report.

Section 5 - Definitions

(13) For the purpose of this Procedure:

bribery: providing, causing, offering or promising to provide any advantage to another person where the advantage is not legitimately due. The intention of the bribe must be to influence a foreign public official in the exercise of his or her official duties to obtain or retain business or a business advantage that is not legitimately due to that Australian person or Australian company.

foreign official: the definition of ‘foreign public official’ is very broad, and includes:

An employee/official of a foreign government

A member of the executive, judiciary magistracy of a foreign country

A person who performs official duties under a foreign law

A member/officer of the legislature of a foreign country, or

An employee/;official of a public international organisation (such as the United Nations)

offence: the offence of bribing a foreign public official has three elements which can be divided into steps. All of these elements must be present for the offence to apply:

the person:

provides a benefit to another person, or

offers or promises to provide a benefit to another person, or

causes a benefit to be provided, offered or promised to another person, and

the benefit is not legitimately due to the other person, and

Step 1 was carried out with the intention of influencing a foreign public official (who may or may not be the other person) in order to obtain or retain business or obtain or retain a business advantage which is not legitimately due.